§ 7120 — Enforcement and penalties

Delaware § 7120

• Jurisdiction: Delaware
• Title: 16
• Part: Safety
• Ch. 71A: REDUCED IGNITION PROPENSITY CIGARETTES

Text

(a) A manufacturer, wholesale dealer, agent or any other person or entity who knowingly sells or offers to sell cigarettes, other than through retail sale, in violation of § 7117 of this title shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $100 for each pack of such cigarettes sold or offered for sale provided that in no case shall the penalty against any such person or entity exceed $100,000 during any 30-day period.

(b) A retail dealer who knowingly sells or offers to sell cigarettes in violation of § 7117 of this title shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $100 for each pack of such cigarettes sold or offered for sale provided that in no case shall the penalty against any retail dealer exceed $25,000 during any 30-day period.

(c) In addition to any penalty prescribed by law, any corporation, partnership, sole proprietor, limited partnership or association engaged in the manufacture of cigarettes that knowingly makes a false certification pursuant to § 7118 of this title shall be subject to a civil penalty of at least $75,000, and not to exceed $250,000 for each such false certification.

(d) Any person violating any other provision in this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty for a first offense not to exceed $1,000, and for a subsequent offense subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000, for each such violation.

(e) Any cigarettes that have been sold or offered for sale that do not comply with the performance standard required by § 7117 of this title shall be subject to forfeiture. Cigarettes forfeited pursuant to this section shall be destroyed; provided, however, that prior to the destruction of any cigarette forfeited pursuant to these provisions, the true holder of the trademark rights in the cigarette brand shall be permitted to inspect the cigarette.

(f) The State Fire Prevention Commission is authorized to promulgate regulations as necessary to implement and administer this law.

(g) The State Fire Prevention Commission may, in consultation with the State Fire Marshal, Director of the Division of Revenue and/or the Attorney General, promulgate regulations to conduct random inspections of wholesale dealers, agents, and retail dealers to ensure that only cigarettes complying with this chapter are sold in the State.

(h) In addition to any other remedy provided by the law, the Attorney General may file an action in state court for a violation of this chapter, including petitioning for injunctive relief or to recover any costs or damages suffered by the State government because of a violation of this section, including enforcement costs relating to the specific isolation and attorney’s fees. In any such action, the Attorney General shall have the same authority to investigate and to obtain remedies if the action were brought (under authorizing statutes and authorities). Each violation of this chapter or of the rules adopted under this section constitutes a separate civil violation for which the Attorney General may obtain relief.

(i) Whenever any law-enforcement personnel or duly authorized representative of the State Fire Marshal shall discover any cigarettes that have not been marked in the manner required by § 7119 of this title, such personnel is hereby authorized and empowered to seize and take possession of such cigarettes. Such cigarettes shall be turned over to the Department of Finance, and shall be forfeited to the State. Cigarettes seized pursuant to this section shall be destroyed; provided, however, that prior to the destruction of any cigarette seized pursuant to these provisions, the true holder of the trademark rights in the cigarette brand shall be permitted to inspect the cigarette.

(j) The State Fire Marshall is authorized to enforce this chapter as necessary to implement and administer this law.

Legislative History

76 Del. Laws, c. 100, § 1 ; 77 Del. Laws, c. 444, §§ 15-18